U.S. patent number 4,217,832 [Application Number 05/889,020] was granted by the patent office on 1980-08-19 for structure made up of several components particularly for use in classrooms.
Invention is credited to Bruno Pozzan.
United States Patent |
4,217,832 |
Pozzan |
August 19, 1980 |
Structure made up of several components particularly for use in
classrooms
Abstract
A structure made up of several components, particularly for use
in classrooms is described which comprises at least two basic
elements, each of said basic elements comprising an L-shaped panel
and a T-shaped base parallel to said L-shaped panel and three
vertical legs connecting said L-shaped panel to said T-shaped base,
two of said legs being mounted at the extremity of the short sides
of said T-shaped base and one leg being mounted at the extremity of
the long side of the T-shaped base, said L-shaped panel having a
plurality of blind orifices along the edge located at a modular
distance, said T-shaped base being provided with a plurality of
orifices, and a plurality of pins for insertion into the blind
orifices of said L-shaped panel for connection of at least two
basic elements. The connection between a plurality of basic
elements is additionally achieved by means of rectangular boards
having two orifices at the extremities and two smaller orifices in
the center of the edge of the longer sides of said rectangular
boards or rectangular boards having a plurality of orifices at
modular distance.
Inventors: |
Pozzan; Bruno (Schio (Vicenza),
IT) |
Family
ID: |
11327946 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/889,020 |
Filed: |
March 22, 1978 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Mar 22, 1977 [IT] |
|
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85551 A/77 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/11; 108/91;
108/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
85/00 (20130101); A47B 87/002 (20130101); A47D
3/00 (20130101); A47B 87/001 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47D
3/00 (20060101); A47B 87/00 (20060101); A47B
85/00 (20060101); A47B 087/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/64,11,79,62,91
;248/188.1 ;D6/55,176 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bucknam and Archer
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A structure made up of different components, particularly for
use in classrooms, which comprises at least two basic elements,
each of said basic elements comprising an L-shaped panel and a
T-shaped base parallel to said L-shaped panel and three vertical
legs connecting said L-shaped panel to said T-shaped base, two of
said legs being mounted at the extremity of the short sides of said
T-shaped base and one leg being mounted at the extremity of the
long side of the T-shaped base, the long side of said T-shaped base
being arranged at an angle with respect to the long side of the
L-shaped panel and being totally overlaid by said L-shaped panel,
said L-shaped panel having a plurality of blind orifices along the
edge located at a modular distance, said T-shaped base being
provided with a plurality of orifices, and a plurality of pins for
insertion into the blind orifices of said L-shaped panel for
connection of at least two basic elements, the three legs and the
T-shaped base being the sole support for the L-shaped panel,
additionally comprising a T-shaped brace means interconnecting the
legs and parallel to the long side of the T-shaped base attached to
the lower face of the L-shaped panel.
2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the connection
between a plurality of basic elements is additionally achieved by
means of rectangular boards having two orifices at the extremities
and two smaller orifices in the center of the edge of the longer
sides of said rectangular boards.
3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the connection
between a plurality of basic elements is additionally achieved by
means of rectangular boards having a plurality of orifices at
modular distance.
4. The structure according to claim 1 which is a table which
comprises two basic elements, wherein the longer sides of said
L-shaped panels are arranged one opposite to the other and the
table has a square shape.
5. The structure according to claim 1 which is a table which
comprises two basic elements, the short sides of said L-shaped
panels are opposite one to the other and the table has a
rectangular shape.
6. The structure according to claim 1 which is a table which
comprises two pairs of basic elements, the long side of each
L-shaped panel of each pair being coaligned with the long side of
one of the L-shaped panels of the other pair.
7. The structure according to claim 1 which is a table which
comprises two pairs of basic elements, the long sides of each pair
of the L-shaped elements being in contact with the long sides of
the other pair.
8. The structure according to claim 1 which is a table which
comprises four basic elements, one pair of basic elements being
arranged with the long sides of the L-shaped panels in contact one
with the other and the other pair having the short sides in contact
one with the other and a plurality of bars in the empty spaces
between said L-shaped panels.
9. The structure according to claim 2 which simulates a theater
which comprises two pairs of basic elements, each arranged in
horseshoe shape, one pair being horizontally arranged and the other
pair being vertically arranged, said rectangular boards connecting
the long sides of the two pairs of said L-shaped panels.
10. The structure according to claim 1 which simulates a house
which comprises two pairs of basic elements in the shape of a
horseshoe, both pairs being vertically arranged and the L-shaped
panels being in the exterior.
11. The structure according to claim 1 which comprises two pairs of
basic elements, one pair being the upper pair and the other pair
being the lower pair, the lower pair being in inverted position,
the long sides of the L-shaped panels of one pair facing the long
sides of the L-shaped panels of the other pair, and a plurality of
horizontal bars connecting said long sides of the L-shaped panels
of the upper pair.
Description
The present invention relates to tables made up of different
components and relates particularly to tables for educational use,
that is tables intended to constitute the entire furniture for
classrooms and particularly for nursery schools, or the lower grade
of elementary schools.
It is well-known that one of the fundamental requirements of a
modern school for young children is to eliminate the rigid
structures of the furniture, traditionally consisting of benches
which may provide one or more seats and which usually are anchored
or intended to be fixed and which are arranged in rigidly
predetermined locations, that is in parallel rows, dominated by the
teacher's desk which is frequently on a platform.
The traditionally rigid structures which constitute the
conventional furniture of a schoolroom, unavoidably influence the
feelings of a child who is subjected to the hierarchy of the
teacher also in formal matters as a coactive imposition, the child
thus being in a state of mind which leads to either a lack of
discipline as a necessity on the part of the child to free himself
from the domination of the teacher or to inactivity as a form of
protest against the fixed location in the traditional
classroom.
The object of the present invention is to provide a table made up
of several components and to create furniture which may be easily
transformed even in the short period of one classroom day according
to the different requirements of an active classroom so that the
child becomes protagonist of his daily activities while the teacher
lives with the children and does not dominate the children from the
height of the teacher's desk but the teacher is close to the
children during the same activities.
The component elements of the assembly in accordance with the
present invention permit to achieve innumerable combinations
depending whether one wants to form a square table or a table in
the shape of a horseshoe or a ring or a double-T with intermediate
passages or a broken polygonal shape. Further, the component
elements according to the present invention permit to arrange the
table in a shape resembling a small theater or a board for scenic
views or a small enclosure for toys. The component elements
according to the present invention may also permit to achieve
structures for gymnastic exercises of different types. All these
changes may be achieved by means of extremely simple
transformations which may be carried out by the children themselves
under the supervision of the teacher with no danger and without any
physical effort superior to the physical strength of the
children.
The basic element which characterizes the table according to the
present invention consists of a board in the shape of an "L",
preferably made of compressed wood, with a support comprising three
legs connected by a frame in the shape of a "T". The basic element
is realized in two forms, that is respectively the right and the
left element, which are symmetrical with respect to each other.
Both the edges which define the basic panel as well as the frame of
the support base are provided with orifices which permit the
insertion of connecting elements, the connecting element consisting
of pins and wooden bars of different lengths as well as simple
rectangular boards provided with orifices, which permit the
assembly of several basic elements which may be identical or
symmetrical, for the purpose of achieving a variety of possible
combinations and which ensure the stability of the assembly.
The drawings illustrate the basic element with the accompanying
structures used for the connection and the completion of the
assembly. The drawings also illustrate several possible
combinations of this basic element which are shown by way of
illustration and which are not intended to limit the present
invention, it being obvious that several other possible
combinations may be realized by varying the number and the
arrangement of the basic elements of the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 represents the basic element of the table in
perspective;
FIG. 2 represents a small board used for connection, provided with
two large orifices and two small orifices;
FIG. 3 represents a pin made of wood provided with a head;
FIG. 4 is a pin provided with a head and also a small pin going
through transversally;
FIG. 5 represents a pin used for connection of other elements;
FIG. 6 is a bar used for connection of other elements;
FIG. 7 is a small bar of cylindrical shape which at the end has a
square cross section;
FIG. 8 represents a pair of flat bars used for connection, provided
with orifices;
FIG. 9 is a piece of material provided with orifices used for
covering the structure;
FIG. 10 illustrates a first possible combination consisting of two
basic elements, forming a square table;
FIG. 11 represents a second possible combination of two basic
elements forming a rectangular elongated table;
FIG. 12 represents a possible combination with four tables forming
a unique rectangular assembly provided with an empty space in the
middle;
FIG. 13 represents still another combination of four basic elements
forming a table having the shape essentially of a double T;
FIG. 14 represents a composite structure having four basic elements
with intermediate spacer elements;
FIG. 15 represents an assembly of four basic elements which form a
table having a discontinuous shape;
FIG. 16 represents an assembly of four basic elements forming a
small theater;
FIG. 17 represents an assembly of four basic elements having the
shape of a small house;
FIG. 18 represents an assembly of four basic elements useful for
physical exercises;
FIG. 19 represents an assembly of two basic elements in inverted
position for physical exercises between the parallel elements;
FIG. 20 is an assembly of four basic elements useful for physical
exercises.
FIG. 21 is an assembly of eight basic elements in the shape of a
board useful for scenic representations.
The basic element of the table comprises an upper planar board 1 in
the shape of an "L", preferably made of compressed wood provided
with several blind orifices 2, which are located along the edge at
a constant modular distance, and a supporting frame 3, in the shape
of a "T" which lies on a plane parallel to the upper board 1 and
which is connected to the upper board 1 by means of three legs, 4,
5 and 6 respectively, of which 4 and 5 are located at the extremity
of the short sections of the "T" and 6 which is located at the
opposite extremity of the long section of the "T".
A small brace 7 also in the shape of a "T" is placed parallel to
the frame 3 and adheres to the lower face of the board 1 so as to
reinforce the structure.
FIG. 2 illustrates the small board 8 which has a rectangular shape
and which is provided with orifices 9 of greater diameter at the
extremities and with blind orifices 10 of smaller diameter along
the edge in the center of the longer sides of the rectangle.
FIG. 3 illustrates pins 11 which are provided with a head; FIG. 4
illustrates pins 12 which are also provided with a head and the
small wooden pin 13 which goes through the orifice 14, the orifice
14 being located at the end of the pin opposite the head. FIG. 5
illustrates cylindrical pins 15. FIG. 6 illustrates the bars 16 and
FIG. 7 illustrates pins 17 of smaller diameter corresponding to the
diameter of orifices 10 shown in FIG. 2, for the reciprocal
connection of the basic elements.
The assembly is completed by means of bars 18 shown in FIG. 8 which
are provided with an orifice at a constant distance and which may
have different lengths. FIG. 9 illustrates a strip of material 19
which may preferably be in lively colors and/or may be provided
with printed designs and which is also provided with rings 20 along
one of the longer sides, located at a modular distance.
By means of two, four, six or even eight basic elements of the type
shown in FIG. 1 and by means of appropriate number of the
accessories illustrated in FIGS. 2-9 it is possible to achieve a
great number of possible combinations for the furniture of a
classroom, the combinations being illustrated by way of examples in
FIGS. 10-21.
For instance in FIGS. 10 and 11 it is possible to see two very
simple combinations which comprise two basic elements respectively
21 and 22 which are mounted as shown in FIG. 10 with six pins 15.
In view of the fact that the longer sides are in position opposite
to each other, the combination gives a table of square shape. In
FIG. 11 one sees four pins 15 which are used to connect two basic
elements while leaving the external shorter sides of each basic
element in position opposite to each other so that the assembly
gives a table of elongated rectangular shape. FIG. 12 illustrates
an assembly of four basic elements 23, 24, 25 and 26 connected by
means of ten short pins so that the assembly forms a rectangular
table with an opening in the middle, the opening also being of
rectangular shape. With this arrangement children may be either on
the external sides or in the middle of the table going through the
center opening and may sit on light stools which are easily movable
or on conventional chairs.
FIG. 13 illustrates four basic elements 27, 28, 29 and 30 which are
arranged in the shape of a double T, in such a manner that each
long side is interrupted by a recess and children may sit in the
area corresponding to the recesses.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, four basic elements are
combined, with two pairs of basic elements placed next to one
another and with bars 16 which are placed in the three rectangular
openings, two openings respectively being located in the longer
sides and one central opening. In this manner there is obtained a
table of greater size which permits to arrange the seating places
at a greater distance one from the other.
In the assembly shown in FIG. 15, the basic elements are connected
among themselves along a line corresponding to the short side so
that the assembly has an open polygonal arrangement, which
comprises several internal corners, an arrangement which is
attractive particularly to children.
FIG. 16 illustrates a small theater comprising four basic elements,
and in more detail, the basic elements designated by numerals 17
and 17.sup.1 are connected to form a horseshoe which constitutes
the base of the arena and the other two elements, in more detail 20
and 20.sup.1, are also connected in a manner to form a horseshoe
but in a vertical arrangement, so as to form the opening of the
arena. In this manner the children who play behind the pair of the
basic elements may be seen by the public. In this assembly the
short boards 8 and the long bars 18 are used diagonally to connect
the vertical panels with the horizontal panels and they are placed
along the edges of the longer sides.
The strips of material 19 are used to cover the sides of the basic
elements so that the support elements are not visible and so as to
complete the theater.
In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 17 four basic elements,
respectively 21, 22, 23 and 24 are connected essentially in pairs
with the boards arranged in the shape of a horse shoe and with the
support elements reciprocally connected in opposite positions, so
as to form a small house covered with the strip of material 19,
under which the children can play.
In the assembly illustrated in FIG. 18, two basic elements 25 and
26 are arranged in inverted position, that is with the horizontal
board at the bottom and with the support elements arranged
upwardly. The two elements 25 and 26 are connected to two other
basic elements, respectively 27 and 28 in such a manner that the
short sides of the support elements in the shape of a "T" are
reciprocally connected by means of pins with heads 12, the pins
going through orifices located along the short sides of the "T"
shaped support elements.
Bars 16 connect the upper boards of elements 27 and 28, thus
forming spaces elements along which children may climb, thus doing
gymnastic exercises.
In the assembly shown in FIG. 19 two basic elements 29 and 30 are
arranged in inverted position, that is with the "L" shaped board at
the bottom. They are connected in such a manner that the elements
31 and 32 which are part of the support element of "T" shape are
arranged parallel one to the other, thus giving an assembly
particularly useful for gymnastic exercises along parallel
structures.
FIG. 20 shows four basic elements 33, 34, 35 and 36 which are
arranged in pairs corresponding to the support members with the
vertical boards opposite one to the other. The vertical boards of
one pair are connected to the vertical boards of the other pair by
means of bars 16. This arrangement forms a double ladder suitable
for the exercises called Swedish gymnastics.
Finally by arranging eight basic elements and connecting the
elements in pairs symmetrically, it is possible to form a raised
platform 37 as shown in FIG. 21, which has a rectangular shape and
which is covered on the two edges by means of the strip of material
19. A small ladder is provided, designated by numeral 38 at a
location along the perimeter of the platform. This assembly permits
to organize scenic representations which are capable of developing
the imagination of children.
Some of the assemblies described herein and particularly the
assemblies intended for gymnastic exercises may be reinforced by
means of flat bars provided with orifices, which are fixed along
the edges of the board of the basic element by means of the pins
with heads 11, for the purpose of providing better safety for the
children.
Obviously the possible combination which may be achieved according
to the present invention by means of the basic element are not
limited to the assemblies described hereinabove because these
assemblies have only been described by way of example. It is also
clear that the imagination of children, with the help and the
supervision of the teacher, may give rise to a great number of
other combinations, which may be achieved as the occasion arises
according to the particular educational requirements. This great
variety of combinations obviously makes the stay of children in the
classroom more attractive and more lively.
Naturally the construction details of the tables made up of
different components of the present invention may be varied without
departing from the essential features of the present invention.
* * * * *